This presentation will outline the research program currently in place to
study the effect of the California ATOC experiment on marine mammals. There are
three phases to this research: (1) a preliminary baseline data collection
period prior to any ATOC transmissions, (2) a pilot study (when ATOC
transmissions would be manipulated to assess effects on marine mammals), and
(3) a monitoring period (when transmissions are optimized for climate study,
ATOC feasibility operations). During the pilot study ATOC transmissions would
be 4 days on, 7 days off and changes in the animals distribution, abundance,
and general behavior measured. This experimental pattern would be replicated to
provide statistical power. Although the objectives are different for each
period, the research methodology remains the same. Methods used will be aerial
and shipboard surveys to assess distribution and abundance, shipboard
observations to assess behavior, a towed array to assess acoustic behavior,
photo-identification to examine long-term movements and stock identity, and
very high frequency (VHF) radio tags and time depth recorders (TDR) to assess
dive behavior and movements. Data collected during the preliminary period are
being used to predict sample sizes necessary for studies that would be carried
out during the pilot study.